Sunday, September 27, 2015
Elizabeth & John
A prominent yet rocky relationship, which is a tragedy in itself. Instead of giving us a beloved couple which we can easily root for, Arthur Miller gives an estranged couple with a crumbling relationship. To me, it seemed that despite their failing marriage, John and Elizabeth deeply loved each other. I believe that is why John felt so hurt by Elizabeth's coldness to him before he cheated. That is also why I believe it was so hard for Elizabeth to forgive him. It seemed like they grew distant over time, and their pride stopped them from admitting and or stopping it. However, they were forced to face their failing relationship when John cheated. Yet even then they both pushed it off, and avoided really confronting it, and moving on. However, the witch trials forced them to face each other, and to really be honest with one another. And I believe that brought them together again. The prime example of this being John and Elizabeth's final dialogue before John was hanged. Despite not being romantic in the traditional sense, the underlying emotion was powerful. As I have stated before, to me, the only reason Elizabeth even tried to change John's mind was out of a personal desire to be with him again, to have him to herself again. Additionally, I believe the only reason John initially agreed was Elizabeth, and the thought of finally having her love him and accept him again. In short, the idea of forgetting everything else, and just thinking of each other was almost tempting enough for them to go against everything they believed in. However, they knew they couldn't live with themselves if they were that selfish, so they sacrificed their relationship to do what was right. Do you agree?
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Well, I agree that they did do want was right. Consquently, shouldn't the couple have considered their children and the sake of their own lives rather than doing what was right? Were their not worth living for? What was their an internal affair within Proctor causing him to think they way he did?
ReplyDeleteThe example they leave for their children is what influences them when becoming adults. The legacy John and Elizabeth leave behind is more important than simply being there with them. Whether they are dead or alive doesn't matter, it's what they believe in and fight for. If John allowed his morals to be corrupted and tossed aside it would be pointless if he were alive. Clinging to life by giving up everything you know to be right, is meaningless, and cowardly. With that said I do believe there was an internal conflict within John. A conflict of wanting to give in to her personal desires and be with his family again vs. standing for what is right. And John was both brave and wise enough to know that the latter was the right choice, even if it wasn't the one that brought him the most happiness.
DeleteAlso, if they deeply loved each other, why would they always argue rather than slowly fixing their relationship? Would this be due to the context of the Setting or an internal conflict between both caharacters?
ReplyDeleteThey did deeply love each other, and the witch trials demonstrated this. Their love wasn't shown in dramatically romantic ways. However, I believe it is always there, and runs deep in both of them. Which unintentionally causes a lot of their conflicts.
DeleteI agree with everything you said, however I do not agree with what you stated, "I believe that is why John felt so hurt by Elizabeth's coldness to him before he cheated. That is also why I believe it was so hard for Elizabeth to forgive him. It seemed like they grew distant over time, and their pride stopped them from admitting and or stopping it." In my opinion, this statement is false because I believe that Elizabeth was so hurt after he cheated because she loved him so much and she believed he felt the same way. Even in a relationship where both partners feel distant from each other, the love never dies. Their pride and ego comes in at this part. They both felt distant but because one felt like they loved the other more or that they were putting in more effort than the other. If one let the other know, it was like giving in. Do I make myself clear?
ReplyDeleteI agree, I think we're on the same page. What I meant was that John felt like Elizabeth didn't love him as much as she use to. And when John cheated because of that, Elizabeth felt the same way. Obviously, John took more extreme action on his feelings, but I believe it was their strong feelings and pride that led separated them. Neither wanted to admit that they felt like the other didn't love them like before, and that led to ohn cheating.
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